AT&T Inc. and Palm Inc. have announced the availability of the Palm Centro from AT&T, designed for customers who want a more accessible smart device. The handheld is available for US$99.99 - after a contract is signed and a mail-in rebate is submitted.

Centro offers customers choices to stay in touch by using voice, text messaging, instant messaging, e-mail or the Web. Featuring a color touch-screen and full QWERTY keyboard, Centro is the first Palm OS product to launch with AT&T services, such as XM Radio Mobile, Push to Talk and MusicID.

The handheld is the smallest and lightest Palm product to date. The AT&T version is initially available in new "glacier white" with green keypad accents, and, in approximately one month, AT&T will debut a second color — "obsidian black."

"The demand for crossover devices is skyrocketing, and the Centro hits a sweet spot for many customers looking for a QWERTY device with a solid suite of messaging and multimedia features," said Michael Woodward, vice president, Business Mobility Products for AT&T's wireless unit. "At a great price that can be coupled with a variety of AT&T's messaging and data options, we are thrilled to offer Centro to our 70.1 million customers."

"Centro offers a simple way for customers to stay connected to the people who are important to them while better managing their increasingly hectic lifestyles, all at the price of a traditional mobile phone," said Brodie Keast, senior vice president of Marketing for Palm, Inc.

The companies are placing their bets on the simplicity of Palm OS, plus key features such as one-touch speakerphone, conference calling, ignore a call with text messaging and Bluetooth connectivity.

Also part of the package is a built-in IM application, allowing customers to message with select contacts from their choice of AIM, Windows Live Messenger and Yahoo! Messenger instant messaging services.

The AT&T Mobile Music platform includes the ability to sideload music with Napster and eMusic with built-in Pocket Tunes Deluxe, listen to live radio with XM Radio Mobile, discover new songs with MusicID and more. Centro from AT&T is the first Palm smart device to offer XM Radio Mobile. For US$8.99 a month, XM Radio Mobile gives AT&T consumers 25 of the XM Radio channels, featuring commercial-free rock, hip-hop, country, jazz and more. A free three-day trial is included with Centro.

Other AT&T Services for Centro include Push to Talk, TeleNav GPS Navigator and MobiTV.

The quad-band Palm Centro from AT&T operates on AT&T's EDGE network, part of the GSM family of technologies.